Wexford ... 2-19 Laois ... 2-12: Wexford turned on the magic as they handed hotly-fancied Laois a seven-point drubbing at New Ross yesterday. And once again it was John Hegarty who showed the way as he finished with a tally of 0-8, six of his points coming from frees.

The sides were deadlocked at 0-3 at the end of the opening 15 minutes, but eight minutes later Mattie Forde flicked home Wexford's opening goal. The Laois response was swift. Having forced a 45, Michael Lawlor sent a short kick to Greg Ramsbotham whose effort rebounded for Noel Garvan to finish to the net.

Wexford looked the classier side as Colm Browne's Laois side began to struggle. David Murphy and Forde combined to provide Scott Doran who blazed home a tremendous goal two minutes before the break to leave Wexford with a 2-7 to 1-5 interval lead.

Wexford were in full cry in the second half with Hegarty tagging on five more points as Leigh O'Brien, Jack Berry and Scott Doran all got on the scoreboard. They had built a 2-19 to 1-12 lead when Laois substitute Gary Kavanagh responded with a late goal.

WEXFORD: O Murphy; C Morris, M Gahan, M Carley; D Murphy, D Breen, L O'Brien (0-2, frees); T Howlin, W Carley; D Kinsella, J Berry (0-2), M Forde (1-4); S Doran (1-2, one free), J Hegarty (0-8, six frees), P Carley. Subs: P Berry (0-1) for Kinsella; P Curtis for D Murphy.

LAOIS: F Byrom; P McDonald (0-2), T Kelly, D Ryan; C Kelly, P Conway, J Higgins; J Kealy, P Clancy; M Lawlor, D McEvoy, N Garvan (1-0); C Conway (0-8, four frees), G Ramsbotham (0-1), B McDonald. Subs: G Kavanagh (1-1) for Clancy; D Conroy for K Kelly; S Kelly for McEvoy.

Referee: N Barrett (Cork).